nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
Harang and Santana will hit free agency at the end of the season, so there will be a couple openings in the rotation next year. I would never advocate that a young pitcher simply be handed a job in the rotation in spring training. He should have to compete for it and earn it. I do want to advocate that Hale be given a chance to compete for a spot in the rotation. I think his stuff plays better as a starter. He has four decent to good pitches. No outstanding single pitch. As a starter he can work on all his pitches and stay sharp with all of them. He seems to find his rhythm better as a starter. We have some other young pitchers who can push him next spring: Martin, Schlosser, Thomas, Hursh. But I think at this point Hale has to be at the top of any such list.